Stardock has set the release date for WindowBlinds version 4. Tuesday, March 25th. WindowBlinds 4 will initially only be available for Windows XP. Version 4 for Windows 98, ME, and 2000 users is expected out not too long after.

The main new features of WindowBlinds 4 include:
1) Vastly increased performance. WB 4 makes heavy use of new internal Windows XP technologies that allow much faster GUI drawing. One particular new technology is called "Smart Painting" which greatly decreases the number of excess redraws programs perform. The result is that on some skins, WindowBlinds 4 will seem about as fast as "classic" Windows.

2) Full skinning of virtually every part of the Windows XP GUI. WindowBlinds 3 skins most elements of the Windows GUI, version 4, skins essentially all of them. This includes "shell styles" (the task panel on the left of explorer folders).

3) Skinning of new elements of the Windows GUI such as the logon/logoff dialogs, the "please wait dialogs", Control panel backgrounds, and more.

4) Command prompt skinning. If you want Windows XP to really be truly "native", WindowBlinds 4 is the first and only way to skin the Windows command prompt.

5) A new, easier to use, and more functional config dialog. WindowBlinds will continue to allow users to change their settings via the Windows display properties. But power users will now be able to make use of a new, greatly enhanced config dialog.

6) A rewrite of the underlying skinning engine for vastly greater compatibility. Even non-standard programs that add their own buttons to the title bar will work fine.

7) Tons of other tweaks and enhancements.

WindowBlinds 4 beta is currently available on Object Desktop. You can learn more about Object Desktop at www.objectdesktop.com. It is a suite of desktop enhancements that allows users to turbo-charge their Windows systems.